Published by Swiss James on 19 Nov 2007 at 12:06 pm
Rapscallions! Jackanapes!
Brace yourselves for some rather unpleasant news, I was pickpocketed at the weekend. Now I enjoyed “Oliver Twist” as much as the next man, but in real life the whole thing isn’t half as much fun. Picture the scene, you’re a handsome gentleman in his mid to late 20s (alright then, 29) and you’re having trouble getting a taxi on the mean streets of Shanghai. It’s always like this when it rains, and the area I was in (between Huaihai Lu and People’s Square) is a blackspot for picking up a cab.
Racing through crowds, fighting other potential passengers, when suddenly you notice an unbearable lightness about your person. And that was that, no sign of a fast-footed street urchin, no shifty men lurking in corners- it was there, and then it wasn’t- wallet and phone both gone.
The silver lining in this tragedy is that I’ve gotten lots of great advice off people ever since it happened: apparently the pocket (outer, jacket) I was carrying my stuff in was all wrong, the exact spot (overpass next to Nanjing Road, suspiciously close to where WoAi works…) where I was robbed is a terrible den of thieves, this time of year (just before the new year when migrant workers want to go home) is particularly dangerous and nobody should carry over 1,000RMB in cash on them (because, well, just because).
All very valuable information, and just what I wanted to hear.
I feel your pain James. In March I was walking the mean streets of Barcelona, Las Ramblas to be exact, pissed off me arse, when I realized that the remainder of that evenings party funds had been removed from my person. 150 Euros. I was told to blame the gypsies. To add insult to injury, the ATM refused to give me more cash and kept my bank card locked within its mechanized bowels.
Oh here in Korea we reserve spots in fast food restaurants by putting our grotesquely stuffed wallets and top-of-the range mobile phones on the tables and then wandering off to get our food. You don’t do that there?
Although alarmingly the Seoul subway system is introducing ladies only carriages next year on account of widespread “line five action”.
I guess that a chap has a greater chance of getting his “bag” snatched in Shanghai in more ways than one.
Oh don’t get me started on Barcelona, I too was on Las Ramblas, although still of sound mind and body- when a rather coarse young man tried to give me what I believe is known as a “five high” whilst he took my billfold.
Fortunately I was wise to his little masquerade and averted the wandering hand.
Seoul sounds like a splendid place- how many seasons do they have Champers?
Funny you should ask, James. Korea has four distinct seasons. Winter started at 1220 pm on Saturday. Flippin parky here now, and will remain so until the afternoon of March 20 when spring will start.
James, don’t get mad, get even. One day a real rain will come and wash the scum off the streets, until then there’s only you.
Champers- Is the start of Spring subject to industrial action? I remember in the UK one time when the postmen were on strike and we had to have Christmas a week later.
dingle- oh I don’t know about all that carry on, I don’t want to cause a scene.
Sinocidal had the best idea: carry a cheap wallet in your outer pocket with nothing in it but a 2 jiao note with “eat poo” written on it in Chinese.
Ooops. I thought it started midMarch. Should have paid more attention in geography. Industrial action? In Korea? Surely not!
I went to Barcelona. It was nice. Didn’t get pickpocketed tho.
well then you can hardly say you “went” to Barcelona can you? It’s like going to Paris and not being ignored in a restaurant.
maxiewawa- I’d always be getting drunk and trying to pay taxis with a sign saying “eat poo”
outside coat pocket creegan, I’ve got to say you were begging to get pick pocketed. It’s still disappointing though, you’d think these cheeky chaps would avoid the easy pickings and only go for the challenging stuff so as to further enhance their skills.
Being pickpocketed on Las Ramblas is such a part of Barcelona life that it plays a large part in my Spanish book. Disappointingly it didn’t happen to me, despite me going again this summer in the vain hope of getting some of the action.
I think that I am quite safe here in Milwaukee this week
BTW Swiss, in the photo, why is that midget kissing your ass?
Yes, I must admit when one of my boyz came back to the hide out with some new;y “acquired” loot I did think “hmmm …. I have definitely seen that phone somewhere before both in person (can you see a phone in person?) and on some blog somewhere but thought nothing of it till I saw this post. I’m returning it via courier (you’ll know him because he’s the same “courier” who relieved you of it in the first place …. please tip him as is expected).
Champers – try that saving my seat with my fat wallet trick in China – you’ll lose your wallet AND your seat.
Deplorable tealeafery! I’m shocked, shocked and saddened! What is the world coming to?
Missbels: isn’t it too cold for the pickpockets to be out in Wisconsin?
missbels- I think as long as you were accosted by some ragamuffins selling flowers, you can assume they had a good look to see where your purse was. But maybe go back during the Christmas season just to get the real experience.
Uncle Richie- he’s actually going for what we call a “line five handshake”
WoAi- is it 10% in these circumstances? Or just a clip round the ear?
James you’ve been here long enough to know better – you spit into his outstretched hand.
Contrary to popular belief, the end of the year is one of the best times to look for, awesome descion